ard
to the way, with intent to have shown his forwardness on the foremost
mules. And when a cavalier from Venta Cruz, well mounted, with his page
running at his stirrup, passed by, unadvisedly he rose up to see what he
was: but the Cimaroon of better discretion pulled him down, and lay
upon him, that he might not discover them any more. Yet by this, the
gentleman had taken notice by seeing one half all in white: for that we
had all put our shirts over our other apparel, that we might be sure to
know our own men in the pell mell in the night. By means of this
sight, the cavalier putting spurs to his horse, rode a false gallop; as
desirous not only himself to be free of this doubt which he imagined,
but also to give advertisement to others that they might avoid it.

Our Captain who had heard and observed by reason of the hardness of the
ground and stillness of the night, the change of this gentleman's trot
to a gallop, suspected that he was discovered, but could not imagine
by whose fault, neither did the time give him leisure to search. And
therefore considering that it might be, by reason of the danger of the
place, well known to ordinary travellers: we lay still in expectation
of the Treasurer's coming; and he had come forward to us, but that this
horseman meeting him, and (as we afterwards learnt by the other Recuas)
making report to him, what he had seen presently that night, what he
heard of Captain DRAKE this long time, and what he conjectured to
be most likely: viz., that the said Captain DRAKE, or some for him,
disappointed of his expectation, of getting any great treasure, both
at Nombre de Dios and other places, was by some means or other come
by land, in covert through the woods, unto this place, to speed of his
purpose: and thereupon persuaded him to turn his _Recua_ out of the way,
and let the other _Recuas_ which were coming after to pass on. They were
whole _Recuas_, and loaded but with victuals for the most part, so that
the loss of them were far less if the worst befell, and yet they should
serve to discover them as well as the best.

Thus by the recklessness of one of our company, and by the carefulness
of this traveller; we were disappointed of a most rich booty: which
is to be thought GOD would not should be taken, for that, by all
likelihood, it was well gotten by that Treasurer.

The other two _Recuas_ were no sooner come up to us, but being stayed
and seized on. One of the Chief Carriers, a very